August 2013 – Choosing Health Now

Cholesterol Clarity

August 29, 2013/0 Comments/in Blog /by admin

Author, podcaster, success story and all around awesome guy Jimmy Moore has a terrific new (and much needed!) book out about cholesterol called Cholesterol Clarity (co-authored with Dr. Eric Westman). Jimmy used to weigh 400 lbs and take all sorts of medications including cholesterol-lowering drugs before turning his health around with eating low-carb. He’s experienced firsthand some of the bitter side-effects they can cause.

In his book, Moore pulls together information from an amazing team of 29 doctors and experts (including Dr. William Davis, Dr. Ronald Krauss, Dr. Uffe Ravnskov, Dr. Robert Lustig, Dr. Duane Graveline, Dr. Jonny Bowden, Dr. Chris Masterjohn, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, Dr. John Briffa, Dr. Thomas Dayspring, Dr. Fred Pescatore, Gary Taubes) to teach us all the essential keys we need to make informed decisions about our health when it comes to cholesterol, such as:

Why your LDL-C and total cholesterol numbers may not be as important in determining your health as your doctor may think
The undeniable negative role chronic inflammation plays in your health
Why cholesterol-lowering Statin drugs don’t necessarily solve your heart health concerns
Why your doctor should be testing for LDL particles and particle size
Why HDL and triglycerides are far more predictive of health concerns than LDL-C and total cholesterol
Why consuming saturated fat is good and why carbohydrates are detrimental to attaining the best cholesterol numbers (Caitlin Weeks, Grass Fed Girl)

Here’s what fellow bloggers Jason Seib & Sarah Fragoso have to say about Moore’s book:

“Cholesterol Clarity makes clear what so many people need to know. The reality is, the vast majority of what you have been told about cholesterol and it’s relationship to heart disease is dead wrong. The spread of this misinformation, most of which is perpetuated by Big Pharma, has amounted to enormous profits, not saved lives or even a moderate reduction in heart disease worldwide.”

and

“This book defines all the key points that we need to understand about the subjects of cholesterol and heart disease, and it answers every question anyone could ask, all through these amazing experts. There have been a few other fantastic books written on these subjects before, but all are written in typical sciencey book fashion. Cholesterol Clarity is THE book for everyone and a great resource for those who want to dig right into the information and really learn the truth behind this mess rather than spend their time immersed in science.”

Check it out for yourself and don’t let another day go by that you don’t understand how valuable cholesterol is and what those numbers on your blood test really mean.

Detox Bath Recipes

August 23, 2013/1 Comment/in Blog /by admin

With our busy lives, stopping to take a bath can be a challenge. That’s why I love baths with a purpose (they make me feel so productive!). In a recent blog, Sarah Pope, The Healthy Home Economist gave recipes for 4 awesome detox baths and what each of them is best for. Here’s a quick summary, click here for full post:

Baking Soda Bath, great for digestive trouble, swollen glands, irradiated food exposure, sore throat/gums/mouth

Dissolve 4 cups of baking soda in a regular size tubful of water as hot as you can tolerate. Use more as needed if your tub is oversized. Stay in the bath until the water has cooled which will take approximately 45 minutes. Do not rinse after the bath – simply towel dry.

Epsom Salts Bath, helps alleviate muscle soreness, can lower blood pressure, great for heart & circulation, and encourages detoxification of drugs post-surgery

Dissolve 2 cups of epsom salts in a regular sized bath. Use more as needed if your tub is oversized. The temperature should be comfortably warm but not overly hot. Soak for at least 12 minutes and up to 20-30 minutes. Rinse and towel dry.

Sea Salt and Baking Soda Bath, great after any environmental radiation exposure such as x-rays, TSA screening or airplane flying

Dissolve one pound of sea salt or rock salt and one pound of baking soda to a regular sized tub of water (more if the tub is large) as hot as you can stand it. Stay in the bath until the water has cooled which will be about 45 minutes. If the bath is too hot, you can add some cold water if this is the only way you can manage to stay in for at least 30 minutes. Don’t ever add more hot water after entering the bath, however.

Do not rinse or shower but simply towel dry after the bath is complete. This bath will likely make you tired so do it in the evening before bed if possible.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Bath, great overall detoxifier and post-exercise soreness or achiness

Add 2 cups of pure apple cider vinegar to a regular sized tub of water as hot as tolerated. Use more as needed if your tub is oversized. Stay in the bath until the water has cooled which will be about 45 minutes. Towel dry and don’t shower for at least 8 hours.

“This bath is a great overall detoxifier and for muscle aches and pains brought on by physical exertion. An ACV bath also draws excess uric acid out of the body. Uric acid is created when the body breaks down substances called purines in certain foods and drinks. Most uric acid is eliminated via the kidneys in the urine, but some folks such as those with gout can have issues with excess levels. An ACV cleansing bath can provide welcome relief for those with joint problems, arthritis, gout, bursitis, or tendonitis. It also is very helpful for those with excessive body odor problems.” (Sarah Pope)

Don’t Mix and Match

Be sure to only do one bathing formula per day and don’t mix ingredients. If you are pregnant, consult with your healthcare practitioner before trying any detox baths.

Enjoy one or more of these baths 1-3 times per week!

Zucchini noodle “zoodles” with a spiral slicer

August 14, 2013/0 Comments/in Blog /by admin

Also called zoodles or zucchetti, zucchini noodles made with a spiral slicer are a fun, fork twirl-able staple food for anyone looking to add a nutrient-dense, gluten-free/grain-free, Paleo compatible noodle into their meals.

You will need a spiral slicer like this one to create long, thin strings.

We made zoodles in our Paleo-inspired staple foods cooking class and everyone loved them! Here’s a “how to” excerpt from our class:

“This recipes requires a spiral slicer. This is a tool worthy of investment if you are serious about being grain free.

Slice ends of zuchinni off and slice zuch in half.
Then insert each half on the spiralizer and use smallest triangle blade for small noodles.
Rotate until all of zuch is used, repeating for each zuchinni half.
Cook on low-medium heat in olive oil for 10 minutes. 1 zuch per person. OR bake in the oven on a tray lined with paper towels (to soak up moisture) at 250 for 20 mins.
Top this with pesto, sausage, and fresh tomatoes or a homemade tomato sauce.

It’s as simple as that! You can spiral slice sweet potatoes for homemade fries, cucumbers, apples, etc.

If you’d like to learn more about how to make healthy, grain-free cooking fun, make sure to check out my upcoming events. 🙂